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Pension Credit: Overpayments

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many overpayments there were of pension credits in each of the last three years; what the average sum involved was; and how much has been or is expected to be recouped from the executors of deceased pension credits claimants. [163335] [Official Report, 26 November 2007, Vol. 468, c. 138W.] Letter from Mike O’Brien: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 26 November 2007. The correct answer should have been: Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 13 November 2007]: The information relating to the volumes and average value of all pension credit overpayments identified in the last three years are in the following table: [Corrected table printed - click on Web Location to view] The large increase in overpayments identified in 2006-07 reflects the Department’s effort in improving the management and recovery of overpayments and in reducing error in the benefits system, including the identification and removal of error from the pension credit caseload. The increase in average value in 2006-07 is due to the priority attached to tackling high value error and the fact that overpayments identified could have existed since the introduction of pension credit in October 2003. Information relating to how much has been recovered from executors of deceased pension credit claimants is only available from 2006, and is in the following table. Information relating to how much is expected to be recouped is not available. Amount recovered (£) 2006-07 4,869,000